A/N: This chapter and last week's were actually one chapter that I split in two, that's why they're a little shorter, but the longer chapters will return next Tuesday!


Part XVI

Letty's, Saturday 12:12PM

"Papa, you were amazing today."

"Thanks. I didn't think coach would let me play because I missed so many practices."

"I'm glad he did. They wouldn't have won without you." Dom told him.

Mateo suddenly got quiet and sat his sandwich down on the plate in front of him. He looked curiously at his father as he had been all day. Dom sat back in his chair and looked back at his son.

"What's up?"

"How come you were in Mom's bed this morning?"

Letty cleared her throat and Dom shifted uncomfortably in his chair. They did want to talk to him about what he'd seen earlier. Now was as a good a time as any, it seemed.

"Mom and I had a sleepover."

"Like with movies and video games?"

"Not quite. It was more of an adult sleepover."

"Oh." Mateo replied, and while he didn't really understand what that all entailed, he was almost positive he didn't really want to know anyway. "Are you and mamí married again?"

"Well, not exactly, but we do want to start dating each other again."

"Oh." Mateo repeated himself.

"Is that okay with you?"

"Does that mean we're all going to live together again?" His brown eyes darted between his parents, full of hope.

"We have to work toward that."

"With Dr. Klaus?"

Letty nodded. "And with each other."

"And with you." Dom added.

"Exactly."

"With me?"

"Of course. You have some say in this too. We want you to express how you're feeling about us. If anything makes you uncomfortable."

Mateo was quiet for a few moments. He picked at a spot on his shorts before asking, "Are you going to have another baby?"

"What? Why would you ask that?" Letty wondered, concern lacing her voice.

Mateo shrugged. "A kid at school said that's what happens when parents are in bed together. They have sex to have another baby."

"Well-."

"What exactly is sex?"

"Oh god." Letty breathed. She was trying to laugh at the incredulous look on Dom's face. The man was about to have a major coronary event. Letty had to put him out of his misery.

"Well, when people love each other, they want to express that love."

"Naked?"

Dom's mouth dropped open. Letty held back a snort of laughter. "Yes."

The next hour consisted of Letty explaining sex to their eleven-year-old son. By the time Dom found his voice, Letty had gotten into birth control options.

"Sometimes it can result in a baby, sometimes it doesn't."

"Why not?"

"There are a lot of factors. Ovulation, sperm count, use of condoms or birth control pills."

Mateo sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Whoa."

"Tell me about it." Letty commented.

"So, you and papí are having sex?"

"Yes."

"But not to have a baby. Just to express your love right?"

"Right." Letty replied with a definitive nod. "I told you. You're my one and only baby."

"I wouldn't be mad if you did have another baby, but just not yet."

"Because you like being an only child?"

"Well, yeah, but if we all live together again, I want to be able to enjoy that again before another person comes."

Letty couldn't argue there. She was just happy he was being open and honest about his feelings.

"Deal." She stuck her hand out over the table and Mateo grinned. He reached over and tapped his fist against his mother's and they did their super secret handshake.

"Anymore questions?"

"Maybe later. I'm gonna go shower and do some homework."

"Just a reminder that David Beckham washes behind his ears, so you should too." Letty called as Mateo darted out of the room.

Letty turned to her ex-husband and smirked. "You know, for a man who's had a lot of sex, you sure don't explain it very well."

"Did that really just happen?"

"Afraid so."

"Now I know why my dad just gave me and Mia health books and told us not to do it until we were eighteen."

Letty did laugh then. "A lot of good that did."

"I didn't hear you complaining."

"That's because I did all my complaining to Mia." Letty teased and stood from her seat to clean the table. When she reached for his plate, Dom grabbed her arm and pulled her into his lap.

"You didn't."

She shrugged. "I guess you'll never know."

Dom grinned and kissed her lips. "Any complaints now?"

"No. Only praises."

Dom nodded his head. "Oh yeah. That's what I like to hear."

They shared a laugh until Letty kissed him again and then stood from his lap. She really did begin to clean then, stacking their plates atop each other.

"Speaking of praises, I have to go pick up my clothes for church tomorrow."

"Mm." Letty gave an exaggerated pout. "Are you staying at your place tonight?"

"Not if you don't want me to."

"I don't. But," she nodded her head in the general direction of their son. "I don't want to scar him anymore than we already have."

"He's not scarred, Let. He's curious. And that's how we raised him; to ask questions and never stop learning."

"I know. You're right." She headed to the kitchen sink, Dom on her trail.

"If you're uncomfortable, I'll stay at mine tonight and I'll come pick you two up for church in the morning."

Letty put the dishes in the sink and turned to look at him.

"You're doing it again."

"What's that?"

"Being a good guy. It's turning me on a little."

He gave her a brilliant smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Just a little?"

In response, Letty held her up hand, pointer finger close to her thumb. Dom pulled her close.

"If you want me to stay at my place tonight, just let me know. I won't be hurt."


Letty's, 2:33AM

In the end, they'd decided that Dom would stay at his own place. But Letty couldn't sleep. She rolled around trying to find the comfiest place before realizing she slept soundly in Dom's arms the night before.

So, she called and woke him up and asked him to come over.

"Just for tonight." She'd sworn, not only to Dom, but to herself.

Tomorrow she'd find a way to get to sleep without him. She'd done it for the past year or so, she could do it again.

Except, when he finally arrived at her front door at two-thirty in the morning, Letty found that she didn't actually want to sleep without him anymore. When a tired Dom threw an arm around her waist and passed out in almost no time at all, Letty decided to allow their relationship to progress as it wanted. And if that meant Dom stayed over more, then she was okay with that.


Mia and Brian's, 3:01PM

Dom and Letty were met with a round of applause in the backyard by those closest to them. Those from the neighborhood who just came for the food and fellowship were confused but generally unaffected. Letty discreetly flipped her family the bird.

"Yes, yes, ladies. I'm here. Settle down." Mateo announced, slipping his hands into his gray tailored slacks and smiling. His uncles laughed, and Mia pulled him to her, kissing the top of his head.

"Yeah, yeah, Romeo. Go get changed and we'll kick around the football." Ramsey told him.

"It's a soccer ball."

"Not in my country."

Mateo shrugged, accepting that answer. He hiked his faux leather backpack onto his shoulders and headed up to one of their guest bedroom.

"So, you guys showed up to church together."

Dom looked down at Letty who was already turning to look back at him. They had a silent conversation, deciding together what information they should share. Dom leaned down and pressed his lips against hers in a chaste kiss. They turned back to their family, brows raising as if to ask "any questions?"

Yes, they were back together. Yes, they were trying this again. Yes.

Han came from nowhere, it seemed, patted Dom on the back and handed both him and Letty bottles of Corona.

"Cheers."

And just like that, they were back. Mom and Dad there to be head of household, so to speak. It was normal, and so very right.


Office of Dr. Hans Klaus, Monday, 4:44PM

Klaus laughed with Letty. "Well, I'm glad to hear that."

When their laughter sobered up, Dr. Klaus seemed to get even more serious for a moment. It was almost as he he were reading her body language.

"Look, Letty, I'm happy to hear things are going well, but it seems like there's something else on your mind."

Letty nodded once. "There is. Sort of."

He waited for her to continue.

"Last time I was here for a solo session, we talked about complex post traumatic stress disorder, and well," she struggled to find the best way to phrase her question.

Still, Klaus remained silent.

"Dom and I had sex."

"Okay."

"And now, I find myself ready to just jump right back in. Maybe I'm overthinking things, but isn't that unhealthy? I mean, it's bordering on a need for co-dependence, always wanting him around. I just… I don't know. I don't want to need Dom."

"Well, I can understand that shared intimacy brings on feelings of closeness, especially when shared with someone we love. I don't that in itself is unhealthy. But it can become dangerous if you let it."

"Well, how do I keep it from becoming dangerous?"

"Continue to take things slowly. It's really just as simple as reminding yourself that there are things you both still need to work on."

Letty nodded, but Klaus could tell she was still worried.

"If I may be frank, so far, the process for you two has been a gravy train. The real issues haven't come up yet. I'm not telling you to pick a fight, but one of the issues you felt hindered your relationship with Dom was that he didn't respect you or your decisions as Mateo's mother.

"I'm glad there haven't been any arguments about that, but if it does come up, I just want to provide you and Dom with the tools to get through it and come out victorious in the end. I know you don't want to end up in an unhealthy relationship that reminds you of your mother and father. That's what I'm here to help you and Dom with."

Klaus looked at his watch. "Well, we're out of time or today, but I'll see you on Wednesday with Dom."

"And Mateo, he'll be here for this week's session."

"Perfect. Then I'll see you and your lovely family then."

As Letty walked to her car, she found herself thinking. Dr. Klaus was right. His advice gave her pause on the idea of allowing Dom so much access to her. While she didn't have to have a guard up, it was necessary for her just create boundaries. Not only for herself, but for Dom as well.

In a sense, he had to earn his place by her side again, and vice versa.

And the first step, was sleeping alone.